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Title: Electrolyte treatment for aluminum reduction

Abstract

A method of treating an electrolyte for use in the electrolytic reduction of alumina to aluminum employing an anode and a cathode, the alumina dissolved in the electrolyte, the treating improving wetting of the cathode with molten aluminum during electrolysis. The method comprises the steps of providing a molten electrolyte comprised of ALF.sub.3 and at least one salt selected from the group consisting of NaF, KF and LiF, and treating the electrolyte by providing therein 0.004 to 0.2 wt. % of a transition metal or transition metal compound for improved wettability of the cathode with molten aluminum during subsequent electrolysis to reduce alumina to aluminum.

Inventors:
 [1];  [1];  [1];  [2]
  1. Seattle, WA
  2. Bulleen, AU
Issue Date:
Research Org.:
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States)
OSTI Identifier:
874955
Patent Number(s):
6497807
Application Number:
09/721,845
Assignee:
Northwest Aluminum Technologies (Seattle, WA)
Patent Classifications (CPCs):
C - CHEMISTRY C25 - ELECTROLYTIC OR ELECTROPHORETIC PROCESSES C25C - PROCESSES FOR THE ELECTROLYTIC PRODUCTION, RECOVERY OR REFINING OF METALS
DOE Contract Number:  
310468-A-UF
Resource Type:
Patent
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
electrolyte; treatment; aluminum; reduction; method; treating; electrolytic; alumina; employing; anode; cathode; dissolved; improving; wetting; molten; electrolysis; steps; providing; comprised; alfsub3; salt; selected; consisting; naf; kf; lif; 0004; 02; wt; transition; metal; compound; improved; wettability; subsequent; reduce; transition metal; metal compound; molten aluminum; aluminum reduction; /205/

Citation Formats

Brown, Craig W, Brooks, Richard J, Frizzle, Patrick B, and Juric, Drago D. Electrolyte treatment for aluminum reduction. United States: N. p., 2002. Web.
Brown, Craig W, Brooks, Richard J, Frizzle, Patrick B, & Juric, Drago D. Electrolyte treatment for aluminum reduction. United States.
Brown, Craig W, Brooks, Richard J, Frizzle, Patrick B, and Juric, Drago D. Tue . "Electrolyte treatment for aluminum reduction". United States. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/874955.
@article{osti_874955,
title = {Electrolyte treatment for aluminum reduction},
author = {Brown, Craig W and Brooks, Richard J and Frizzle, Patrick B and Juric, Drago D},
abstractNote = {A method of treating an electrolyte for use in the electrolytic reduction of alumina to aluminum employing an anode and a cathode, the alumina dissolved in the electrolyte, the treating improving wetting of the cathode with molten aluminum during electrolysis. The method comprises the steps of providing a molten electrolyte comprised of ALF.sub.3 and at least one salt selected from the group consisting of NaF, KF and LiF, and treating the electrolyte by providing therein 0.004 to 0.2 wt. % of a transition metal or transition metal compound for improved wettability of the cathode with molten aluminum during subsequent electrolysis to reduce alumina to aluminum.},
doi = {},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Tue Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 2002},
month = {Tue Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 2002}
}

Works referenced in this record:

Principles of Aluminum Electrolysis
book, January 2016


The Transfer of Nickel, Iron, and Copper From Hall Cell Melts to Molten Aluminum
journal, January 1996